Women and Yoga

Yoga is definitely an important part of my life. It's probably the only official form of exercise I get (aside from climbing up and down the hospital stairs a million times a day at work).
So I am intrigued by this new documentary "Yogawoman" all about yoga and women... how women have transformed yoga from a practise traditionally designed for men into a female-dominated multi-billion dollar industry.
Here's the trailer...

so what do you think?
(via)

Spicy Homemade Tom Yum Soup

I love making soups with a bit of kick. And I love experimenting with new flavours... which is why I like making Tom Yum soup. There are so many different flavours in this soup (ginger, lemongrass, chile, lime leaf), and they all come together as something altogether unique (and totally delicious too!).

Read on for the instructions...

Spring is looking extra comfy this year...

I'm loving the laid-back, easy-going outfits in J. Crew's April catalog. Everything looks super comfortable, effortless and casual. 

That's my kind of style!

oh and the bathing suits look pretty amazing too!

via J Crew

Lady Grey Loves.... Funky Recycled Eco Chairs

 Brooklyn's GIN Art & Design create their pieces according to the mantra "conceptually designed - consciously made art & furniture". These awesome chairs are made from recycled materials like repurposed leather and suede. Aren't they cool?

via Haute Nature

Weekend Moments: Searching for Spring

Montreal is well-known for it's winters that drag on forever. 

And even though it's officially spring now, I hadn't yet seen the proof. 

So I went looking for it...

And guess what? 

Turns out spring is here, 

you just need to look down... way down... and you'll see the first signs.

Even the robins have returned to the Montreal area.... so I guess that's objective proof that spring is here. You can't argue with robins.

And the sap is running from the trees (more definitive proof!)

 So I rest my case. 

It may still feel like winter, but there's no doubting this evidence.

Spring has undoubtedly arrived.

 Now, back to my weekend.

I spent Saturday night with my parents out in the country. We went to a local small-town cinema... which is not a cinema at all, but a cafe converted into a cabaret-style performance hall equipped with a projector. It was such a charming environment. They served deliciously buttered popcorn and we drank wine at our little cafe tables while watching Incendies. (The movie itself was a little disturbing, but incredibly done. No surprise it won best foreign language film at the oscars).

And finally my mother and I invented this raspberry & lemon tart, and it was so good that we ate the whole thing, and there was nothing left over to bring back for the husband (sorry, dear!)

I hope you had a wonderful weekend too.

xo

Sometimes Friday comes at just the right time

Sometimes it feels as though Friday will never arrive. 

This week, it came at just the right time.

I'm off to the country for the weekend... in search of signs of spring!

Oh and don't forget about Earth Hour, this Saturday at 8:30pm.

(one of my house plants produced 4 of these crazy-looking flowers, I have no idea what kind of plant it is, but I think it means spring is coming!)

And now for you, here are some links...

• Doily cookies - what a terrific idea!
• The most incredible faux fur you've ever seen, made from felt & twigs.
• What? Blue trees? Aren't they gorgeous?!
• Just say NO to word verification!! It just wastes everyone's valuable time. I've joined the Word Verification Prohibition Team... just for fun! Read more about that here and here.
• An interesting article on beauty written by a plastic surgeon
• I so want these brown rice crispie treats
• And finally another song from the new upcoming Fleet Foxes album,  for your listening pleasure...

Fleet Foxes - Battery Kinzie by One Thirty BPM

And a very weird but also brilliant music video from Tune-Yards (I really like it, and I'm not even quite sure why)



Have a wonderful weekend!
oxo

It has snowed every day this week. 

I am trying my best to stay optimistic. 

{Sigh}

Deep down I know,

that no matter how hard winter tries, 

spring always wins in the end.

At least that's what I remember...

patiently waiting....

oxo

Good Ol' Green Goddess Salad Dressing

I've probably eaten goddess dressing a million times, but I've never made it myself before. I'm so glad I did because it turned out amazing. 

Although it didn't taste anything like this tahini version of Goddess Dressing which I know and love, it's more of a modern version of the traditional recipe.

Here's what I came up with...

In the above photo, I served the dressing with a green salad topped with roasted sweet potato and boiled eggs (the husband and I love to create hearty salad suppers, and we both loved this one!)


*also I forgot to write 'salt & pepper to taste' in the ingredients list, which I guess is kind of obvious anyway!

Alexa Chung and Madewell's Tried & True

Alexa Chung styles original outfits (from her own closet) using Madewell's top five tried & true items...  I'm liking the way she thinks!

If only I had a roof-top garden on a little house in Norway....

If I had a garden on my roof, I would lie on top of my house all day and gaze at the sky....

Apparently green roofs are an old tradition in Norway. They provide insulation and actually stabilize the entire house. They also add a lot of character, don't you think?

I think they look lovely!

via Inhabitat / Amusing Planet

Spring Decorating Ideas to Refresh Your Space

Yesterday was officially the first day of spring, and today in Montreal we are expecting a snowstorm.

I am so sick of winter!

I've been feeling the need to redecorate my apartment for spring... I figure if I prepare for spring, it will inevitably arrive sooner. So I've been looking for ideas on how to brighten-up and refresh my space... here's what I've come up with so far....

Number 1. Of course the most obvious way to bring spring into your home is with fresh flowers...

Or make your own flowers with tissue paper, like Martha does : )

(Martha Stewart)

Number 2. Add in some green.... whether it's a fresh coat of paint, a print on the wall, or some new throw pillows... green is the quintessential colour of spring!

via

Number 3. Use old household items in new ways.... like vintage teacups as beautiful mini vases...

via

Or use egg cups (isn't that adorable?)

via

Number 4. Make sure to let the new light in.... take down or open up those dark curtains, rearrange your furniture,  and use fun patterns to liven up a room...

via

Number 5. Breathe some life (and oxygen) into your home by starting your herb garden on an indoor windowsill.

And when it gets a little warmer, plant your real garden... on your balcony or in your yard, or whatever green space you create for yourself (everybody needs one, get into a community garden if you don't have your own).

(via Ikea)

Here is my balcony garden from last year...

Number 6. And finally, change your linens. A bright floral table cloth or bed spread can really bring on the spring vibe

(via Anthropologie)

Well that's all I can come up with for now. I guess there's always spring cleaning.... maybe on another day!

Do you like to change things up in your home for Spring?